Snapdragon 8s Elite Could Power Midrange Phones as Early as April, Leak Suggests

Qualcomm may soon bring high-end performance to more affordable smartphones, thanks to the upcoming Snapdragon 8s Elite chipset, which could begin appearing in devices as early as next month. Report hints at a wave of new smartphones launching in April 2025 equipped with this slightly toned-down yet powerful variant of Qualcomm’s flagship chip.

Originally believed to be launching in March, the Snapdragon 8s Elite now appears to be slated for an April debut. The delay may reflect tweaks in final testing or strategic timing for brand rollouts. Qualcomm hasn’t officially confirmed the revised timeline, signaling that the launch is imminent.

What makes the Snapdragon 8s Elite so interesting is its positioning between two of Qualcomm’s recent heavy hitters—the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. According to reports, the 8s Elite is expected to outperform the Gen 2 while staying just below the more premium Gen 3 in benchmarks. That makes it an appealing choice for smartphone manufacturers aiming to deliver high-end performance without the top-tier price tag.

However, there’s one notable caveat: the 8s Elite is rumored to use standard ARM cores rather than Qualcomm’s custom Oryon cores, which have been a standout feature in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the Snapdragon X series. That could mean a step back in certain tasks, particularly multi-core or AI-heavy functions, but it will likely help keep production costs in check and make the chip more accessible to OEMs.

Despite being a “lite” version of Qualcomm’s elite chipset lineup, the Snapdragon 8s Elite is still expected to bring several flagship-tier features to the table. These may include support for high refresh rate displays, advanced AI capabilities, and next-gen connectivity options like Wi-Fi 7 and improved 5G modems—features that are increasingly in demand across all phone segments.

The first wave of Snapdragon 8s Elite-powered devices will likely come from Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, iQOO, and Honor, which often move quickly to adopt Qualcomm’s new chipsets. The phones are expected to hit global markets later in Q2 2025, offering budget-conscious buyers a new tier of performance without compromising too much on power or features.

If these reports hold true, Qualcomm is poised to shake up the midrange Android market this spring by giving users a taste of flagship performance at a more digestible price. And with plenty of phones “sporting it,” the Snapdragon 8s Elite may become a go-to chip for 2025’s most competitive mid-tier handsets.